UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh Tengku Hamzah has expressed his willingness to become the opposition leader, despite remaining non-committal about contesting the party’s presidency in its upcoming polls. 

The Gua Musang MP said should the need arise, he would stand as the opposition leader. 

“If need be, I’ll be (opposition leader) again,” he said today. 

He, however, remained mum on whether he would contest the Umno president’s post. 

“I’ll come to that when I need to make the decision. 

“I want to see whether all those people offering themselves will be able to manage Umno the way I think it should be,” he said, adding that Umno still had substantial power due to the 54 lawmakers in parliament. 

“We are a strong force, and because of that, let’s see whether the general assembly or members with the right to vote will vote for those who can manage it,” he said. 

On his chances of contesting, he said, “If they ask me to jump, I jump lah,” he added.

Tengku Razaleigh also stressed on the importance of having young members lead the party, saying they should offer themselves to represent the grassroots.

“Because of the call, people like me should also be around. I’m prepared to help but we need young people because things have changed. This is a new era, not only a new Malaysia,” he said.

The Kelantan prince, also known as Ku Li, added that he felt he was too old to lead the party. 

“There are so many young people, young talented people, better educated, better schooling, better exposed; we must allow these young people (to lead). 

“They are the future of this country. I’m 81, I left the cabinet in 1985,” he said.

Calls had arisen from within the party for Ku Li to contest the Umno president’s post.

After Najib Razak’s resignation as Umno president, Zahid took over the duties of president and announced his candidacy for the top post. – June 10, 2018.